A Brewed History: The World Traveled with Coffee and Tea
Popular everywhere, coffee and tea have deep histories that have molded trade globally and civilizations. Originally from Ethiopia and ancient China, they crossed boundaries to become markers of everyday rituals and social ties. From driving intellectual revolutions to impacting civilizations, their travels show the ongoing force of a basic cup.
Coffee and Tea Shaping History
1. The Ascendancy of Tea
Originally utilized as medicinal plants in ancient China, tea has roots there.
Global Spread: Buddhism was instrumental in extending tea farming over Asia. Tea had arrived in Europe by the 17th century and set off a worldwide trade that changed entire civilizations.
2. The Coffee Phenacle
- Ethiopian Origins: A goat herder who saw his flock’s active activity following coffee berries is said to have found coffee.
- Arabian Influence: Coffee growing and drinking thrived in the Arab East; coffeehouses evolved as hubs of intellectual and social activity.
- Global Domination: Coffee had permeated Europe and the Americas by the 18th century, driving colonial development and so influencing world trade paths.seven
Final note
Deeply entwined with human civilization, the histories of both tea and coffee shape trade, social relations, and culture for millennia. From their modest origins as therapeutic herbs, these drinks have become global commodities drank by billions of people.